OCLEAN

What it does

OCLEAN autonomously detects and collects oil spills and oil-based liquid waste in marinas. After completing its cleaning route using GPS navigation, it returns to the dock for automatic charging and waste disposal, without human intervention.

Your inspiration

Coming from a family involved in marine cleaning, I have closely observed how quickly oil spills spread and the serious environmental threats they cause. Existing solutions are large, slow, and designed for industrial use, making it difficult to intervene in small-scale spills. Additionally, these systems rely heavily on human operation and involve complicated waste disposal processes, which limits their regular use. These experiences inspired me to develop OCLEAN a faster, practical, eco-friendly, and autonomous solution specifically designed.

How it works

Through the dashboard, the user selects the cleaning area and schedule. OCLEAN uses a rail mechanism to descend from its dock station to sea level. Once in the water, it autonomously follows the pre-defined cleaning route using GPS navigation. A rotating drum skimmer collects oil spills and oil-based waste into its front chamber, while the clean water is released back into the sea. The collected waste is then transferred into the internal storage tank via a vacuum pump. After completing the cleaning cycle, OCLEAN returns to the dock. Proximity sensors trigger the rail system to lift the device back to land. It starts charging automatically via a magnetic connection and discharges the collected waste into the dock’s main tank using a magnetic vacuum port. When the dock tank reaches full capacity, the system sends an alert to the user, who then removes the waste using an external vacuum pump.

Design process

The design process began by identifying the limitations of existing marine surface cleaning systems. I conducted field research in marinas and interviewed environmental engineers and marine cleaning staff to understand real-world challenges. I thoroughly studied the internal mechanisms, components, and working principles of similar devices. To find an aesthetic yet functional form compatible with the mechanical structure, I created and tested multiple design iterations. The first prototype focused on testing the efficiency of the drum skimmer. I developed the waste transfer system and tested the internal vacuum mechanism through small-scale prototypes to ensure smooth transfer into the tank. The rail docking system was designed for safe transitions between land and sea. A user interface was added, allowing the selection of cleaning area and schedule. Solar panels were integrated to increase autonomy. For material selection, I visited various suppliers and analyzed options to ensure durability in saltwater environments. The waste disposal process was optimized to minimize human intervention.

How it is different

OCLEAN is specifically designed for localized oil spills and oil-based waste in marinas a need often overlooked by existing industrial solutions. While current systems are large and focused on large-scale operations, OCLEAN offers a compact, autonomous solution tailored to marina environments. It combines oil collection, self-charging, and waste disposal in one system, minimizing human intervention. The rail-based docking system allows safe and seamless transitions between land and water. Through its user-friendly interface, operators can remotely select the cleaning area and schedule. The magnetic vacuum connection enables waste disposal without manual tank removal. Unlike devices designed solely for emergency response, OCLEAN addresses routine, small-scale cleaning needs, filling a crucial environmental gap in coastal maintenance.

Future plans

My next step is to build a fully functional, full-scale prototype that can be tested in real marina conditions. I plan to collaborate with local marinas to validate system performance, collect data, and further develop the software for more accurate navigation and waste detection. My goal is to optimize the production process to create a cost-effective and scalable product. In the long term, I aim to expand OCLEAN’s use to coastal regions worldwide, helping to prevent small-scale oil spills from growing into larger environmental threats.

Awards

This project has not been submitted to any competitions before and has not received any awards. The James Dyson Award is its first application.